‘There’s a reason’ – Kevin O’Connell reveals why Vikings believe J.J. McCarthy is better fit than Aaron Rodgers
Only one NFL team went 14-3 last season and got rid of its starting quarterback.
The same team that publicly passed on Aaron Rodgers, and will now become the first franchise in league history to play games in three countries over a three-week span.
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J.J. McCarthy is facing a big second seasonCredit: GettyWelcome to the NFL, J.J. McCarthy — in Dublin, Ireland and at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“He’s having a great offseason program,” Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell told a group of reporters, including talkSPORT after this week’s historic announcement.
“Hopefully we can continue to build day by day, right on into training camp, where we’ll all get to build our 2025 football team together, which I’m very much looking forward to.”
McCarthy didn’t touch the field as a rookie, suffering a torn meniscus during a preseason when he flashed impressive early signs.
READ MORE ON NFL In 2025, the second-year QB will go international as he bounces from US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Croke Park in Dublin and then Tottenham in London, while the Vikings face the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns.
The three-game journey will see the Vikings fly across the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea, challenging Minnesota’s early-season belief in McCarthy after veteran Sam Darnold signed a $100 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks and the Viks boldly said no to Rodgers in purple.
Four months away from a 2025 season opener at Caleb Williams’ Chicago Bears, O’Connell is adamant that Minnesota has something special in a No. 10 overall pick from 2024 who still hasn’t played a real NFL game.
“I get asked a lot about what gives us the belief and confidence that J.J.’s going to continue to grow and develop and be ready to attack this thing with his teammates,” O’Connell said.
“Unfortunately, he did lose his rookie year to injury, but he didn’t lose that time with his teammates. He didn’t lose that time in our building. He didn’t lose that time continuing to become comfortable in our offense.
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McCarthy and Jim Harbaugh led Michigan to a national titleCredit: Getty
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McCarthy meditated before winning a trophyCredit: Getty
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He was forced to watch and learn as an NFL rookieCredit: Getty”But it goes back even beyond that year. It goes back to when we evaluated him coming out (of college), the traits that we’ve seen in him as a winner, playing the quarterback position for a really long time.
“There’s a reason why we selected him, and the belief that we’ve had in him goes back even before making that selection.”
The 6ft 3in and 219lb McCarthy won the 2023 College Football Playoff as Michigan went 15-0.
Jim Harbaugh used that perfection to leave the Wolverines — and their drama — and return to the NFL as Justin Herbert’s head coach with the Los Angeles Chargers.
McCarthy followed Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and Michael Penix in the 2024 draft, and was set to compete with Darnold for the Vikings’ starting QB spot before a torn meniscus in his right knee abruptly ended McCarthy’s rookie campaign.
“Love you Viking nation,” McCarthy tweeted on August 13, 2024. “I’ll be back in no time. Amor fati.”
His love of fate, good and bad, eventually led to the Vikings watching Darnold head to Seattle after a 13-win season ended with a a 27-9 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams in an NFC Wild Card game.
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Rodgers, 41, would have given Minnesota a future Hall of Famer and another year for McCarthy to watch and learn from a vet.
The Vikings opted for the exact opposite path.
Weeks 3-5 will evaluate McCarthy’s pro talent, leadership and resilience in real time.
The second-year QB will also travel first class, visit the Republic of Ireland and England, and finally be given an opportunity to prove the Vikings right.
“The belief just continues and … grows more and more on a daily basis that he’s in our building,” O’Connell said.
Read More on talkSPORT”We’re really excited about where he’s at right now.”
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